1850 – A letter from a state legislature to his father reporting on life in “Gold Rush” California to include the massive fire that destroyed most of San Francisco
Stockton , California: 1850. Envelope or Cover. This three- page stampless, folded letter, measuring 15.5” x 12.5” unfolded, was written on May 10th, 1850 by E. B. [Ebenezer Bower] Bateman, a state legislator, from “Stockton Upper California” to his father, Burgin, in Jacksonville, Illinois. It bears a manuscript “40” rate marking and a circular “Stockton, Cal / 40” circular postmark dated May 26. It is annotated, “Via Panama & N. Orleans” in the lower left-hand corner.
This letter reads in part:
“I have just returned from ‘San Jose’ the Capitol of the State, where I have been for sometime attending the Legislature having been elected from this district as a member of this body. . ..
“Last Sabbath our new Presbyterian Church was Dedicated, and I regret not being present, but last night had the pleasure of attending a “Concert of Vocal Music” there. Things are rapidly improving here and I think we will soon have as good society as anywhere. . ..
“I hardly know what to say about the time of my returning Home [for] if it works round right, by the time an opening occurs, I may perhaps become a candidate for ‘Congress’ this opportunity may occur next fall, or it may not until a year from that time. . ..
“Immigration continues to flow in at even a more than casually rapid rate, the other day when I was in San-Francisco, Thirty Sail arrived in one day. Gold continues to be found in about the usual quantity – While I was in the city of ‘S. F.’ a Fire broke out, which consumed about one-third of the best & most complete portion of that city – previously Estimated Loss, about Four Millions.
“The ‘Rainy Season’ lasted about five months . . . and closed about two months since . . . until November next we will have delightful weather – the country never looked more beautiful than now, nor have I ever seen views to equal it, our Vallys . . . are heavily covered with wild oats, grass, &c. The Climate is infinitely better than any I ever before experienced – this is one paramount excellence of this country."
. Very good. Item #010656Bateman arrived in California after traveling through Missouri practicing phrenology and lecturing on chemistry, animal magnetism, and medicine. Dissatisfied with his progress in life, he joined the troops that were going to Santa Fe to fight in the Mexican War, after which, he settled in California and continued his ‘medical’ practice. He did not become a congressman, so apparently his political ambitions burned out after serving one term in the state legislature.
The San Francisco Fire of May 1850 was the second conflagration to consume much of San Francisco, and it was far more destructive that their first, primarily because it destroyed real wood frame buildings rather than canvas tents and slap-dash shanties. It began in the United States Exchange, a drinking and gambling house, early in the morning of 4 May, and by noon, three blocks of the city’s most valuable property had been destroyed. Historical records concur with Bateman’s estimated $4 million loss (over $41 million in today’s dollars).
Subsequently, a law was passed requiring all people to assist in fighting any fire that broke out in the city. If a person refused to help put out the fire or remove goods to safety, they were to be fined between $5 and $100 (between $200 and $4,100 today). A second ordinance required every household to keep six water buckets at the ready.
(For more information, see “Early History of the Sn Francisco Fire Department” at the Museum of the City of San Francisco website, “Great Fires: May 4, 1850” at the Guardians of the City website, and online genealogical information at Ancestry.com and the Find-a-Grave website.)
At the time of listing, there are no similar accounts of the great San Francisco fire of 1850 for sale in the trade, and the Rare Book Hub shows no others have ever appeared at auction. OCLC shows one similar letter is held by the Huntington, and a diary and journal with mention of the fire are held by Yale.
.Price: $1,250.00